Sermon #1332 Miscellaneous Notes

Title: “Such As Love Thy Salvation”

Text: Psalm 70:4

Reading: Psalm 40:1-17

Subject: Reasons For Loving God’s Salvation

Date: Sunday Morning - January 10, 1999

Tape # V-5a

Introduction:

All men seek that which they love. Even when they have it in hand, they continue to seek that which they love. We are willing to sacrifice almost anything to get that which we love. Indeed, we will sacrifice anything for that which we love most.

· Those who love money will sacrifice family and character to get it.

· Those who love fame will sacrifice honesty and principle in the pursuit of it.

· Those who love pleasure will sacrifice their very health and physical well being for a greater thrill.

What sacrifices men and women make pursuing the bubbles of this world! When they have caught their dreams, they are left holding a fist full of wind, nothing else! What vanity!

I want to talk to you today about people who love something so dearly, who value something so highly, that they are willing to sacrifice anything and everything in the pursuit of it. Turn with me to Psalm 70:4. When I came across this text in my reading early this week, I new immediately that this would be the text for my message to you this morning. May God the Holy Spirit enable me now to preach this message to your hearts. I want to talk to you about those people who are here described by God himself as “SUCH AS LOVE THY SALVATION.”

Psalms 70:4 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified."

We read this same prayer in almost the exact same words earlier in Psalm 40:16. It is one of the petitions of our Lord Jesus Christ, our sin-atoning Substitute. It is a prayer made by him upon the grounds of his blood atonement, when he was made to be sin for us, when he hung upon the cross in the agonies of death under the wrath of God for our sins. He says here, Father, this is what I ask of you as the reward for my obedience and blood…

Psalms 40:16 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified."

He describes God’s people in two ways and asks two things for them. He describes those who are truly born of God as “those that seek thee” and as such as love thy salvation.” Here is his twofold request.

1. “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee.”

Believers are a people who, by the grace of God, have been made to know their need of him. Knowing our need of him, we seek him.

Lamentations 3:25 "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."

· All who seek him know their need of him.

· Those who seek him believe him.

· They seek him.

· They seek him sincerely and earnestly.

· They seek him continually (Phil. 3).

· They find him.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive."

Believers are men and women who seek the Lord. Now, look at this next sentence…

2. “Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.”

· Salvation is God’s. It is his prerogative, his property, his gift, and his work. - “THY SALVATION!”

· We all need God’s salvation (Rom. 6:23).

· Most people neglect and despise God’s salvation (Heb. 2:3). Proud, self-righteous sinners stumble over the stumbling stone, Christ Jesus, and go to hell because they vainly imagine that they can make themselves righteous, one way or another (Rom. 9:31-10:4).

Romans 9:31-33 "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Romans 10:1-4 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

· But, there are some people in this world who love God’s salvation. Our Lord says, “Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!”

Proposition: True believers are a people who love God’s salvation.

I really like what the puritan, Thomas Goodwin had to say about this. He wrote, “They love it because it is his - ‘Thy salvation.’ It is the character of a holy saint to love salvation itself; not as his own only, but as God’s, as God’s that saves him.”

Let me ask you - DO YOU LOVE GOD’S SALVATION? I am not asking whether you love religion, or love religious activities, or love religious music, or love religious studies, or love the idea of being saved. I am asking, “Do you love God’s salvation?” All who are born of God love his salvation. Let me tell you why.

Divisions: I want to show you seven things about God’s salvation which compel the hearts of saved sinners to love it.

1. The Performance Of It.

2. The Plan Of It.

3. The Price Of It.

4. The Perfection Of It.

5. The Promises Of It.

6. The Person Of It.

7. The Praise Of It.

I. THE PERFORMANCE OF IT.

We understand that salvation does not begin in time, but in eternity. It did not begin when we came to know God, but when he knew us in covenant grace and chose us in Christ before the worlds were made.

Yet, no one knows anything at all about salvation until he experiences it. So I will begin where we all must begin, with the experience of God’s salvation as it is performed in us by his grace. We love God’s salvation because of the sheer joy and pleasure of its experience in our hearts and lives.

Illustration: Bro. Burke’s Testimony

God’s salvation is not only a perfect work decreed for us from eternity, and purchased for us at Calvary by the blood atonement of God’s dear Son, it is also a work of grace performed in us by God the Holy Spirit in regeneration and conversion. Salvation is something we experience, a blessed, glorious experience of God’s almighty, irresistible grace in Christ.

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

Galatians 1:15-16 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"

Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

Ephesians 2:1-9 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

2 Timothy 1:9-10 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"

Did you hear what Jesus said to me?

‘They’re all taken away, away.

Your sins are pardoned and you are free.

They’re all taken away!’

II. THE PLAN OF IT.

We love God’s salvation because of the beauty and perfection of its plan. Nothing about God’s salvation was left to chance. I will not now attempt to expound upon that. Let me simply declare this fact, plainly and constantly revealed in Holy Scripture. Our great and glorious God, in sovereign predestination and by infinite wisdom, planned and purposed to save us from eternity, laying up everything needed for the honor of his name and our souls’ everlasting good in his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of the infinite reservoir of his grace, he supplies all our need, according to the riches of his glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:28-34 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Ephesians 1:3-7 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

III. THE PRICE OF IT.

We love God’s salvation because of the performance of it, because of the plan of it, and because of the price of it. God’s salvation is not without great price. It costs us nothing; but it cost the Lord Jesus Christ his life’s precious blood.

1 Peter 1:18-20 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,"

1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

Once it was mine, the cup of wrath;

But Jesus drank it dry,

When in my place He bore God’s wrath,

And for my ransom died.

No mortal knows the wrath He bore,

So justly due to me;

But all the hell that I deserved

Christ suffered there for me!

Now, not a drop of wrath remains -

“’Tis finished,” was His cry.

With one tremendous draft of love,

He drank damnation dry!

IV. THE PERFECTION OF IT

We love God’s salvation because of the perfection of it. The perfection of God’s salvation is seen in the fulness and completeness of it (Col.2:9-10; 1 Cor. 1:30).

Colossians 2:9-10 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

1 Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

Nothing is unfinished or lacking. God’s salvation is not waiting upon the sinner to add something to make it complete or effectual. Oh, no. God’s salvation is perfect, complete, finished, accomplished.

A. God will only accept that which he provides (Gen.22: 8).

B. Sin has been put away (Heb.9:26).

C. Redemption has been obtained (Heb.9:12).

D. Righteousness has been brought in and established (Phil 3:7-9).

E. Justice has been satisfied (Rom. 3:24-26).

F. Reconciliation has been accomplished (2Cor.5:18).

G. The gospel we preach is good news, not good advice (Isa. 40:1-2).

V. THE PROMISES OF IT.

We love God’s salvation because of its performance by grace, its plan from eternity, its price paid at Calvary, its perfection and completeness; and we love God’s salvation because of the promises of it, sure and absolute, unchangeable promises of grace. This is a sure thing. (Rom.4:16).

Romans 4:16 "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all."

We run no risk when we trust the eternal welfare of our souls upon Jesus Christ the righteous. Gods salvation is a safe and secure salvation, because it is a salvation that is altogether the work of his amazing, free and sovereign grace in Christ. (Psa.62:5-8).

Psalms 62:5-8 "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

He gives and guarantees eternal life to all who believe on His name (John 3:36; 10:27-28).

John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

VI. THE PERSON OF IT.

Above all else we love God’s salvation because of the person of it. Jesus Christ Himself is the sum, substance and subject matter of the gospel. “He is altogether Lovely” (Song of Sol. 5:16).

We delight in the doctrine and experience of God’s salvation; but salvation is not a profession, a doctrine, or an experience. It’s a person. Salvation is not in a church, but a person; and that person who is God’s Salvation is God’s own dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is not in a place nor a position but rather in a person.

Genesis 49:18 "I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD."

Isaiah 49:6 "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."

Luke 2:29-30 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,"

Romans 1:1-3 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"

1 John 5:10-13 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

All who know Christ, all who believe on him, all who are taught of God love God’s salvation…

· because of the performance of it,

· because of the plan of it,

· because of the price of it,

· because of the perfection of it,

· because of the promises of it,

· and because of the person of it.

And all God’s saints love his salvation because of…

VII. THE PRAISE OF IT.

This salvation, which is God’s salvation is for the praise of his glory. It shows forth all the perfections of his holy Being, saying in all its aspects, “Let God be magnified!” This salvation ascribes all praise to God and reserves none for man. And it compels all who experience it to say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”

· In The Experience Of It.

· In The Proclamation Of It.

· In The Remembrance Of It Here (Believer’s Baptism - The Lord’s Supper).

· In The Remembrance Of It Hereafter (Rev. 4 & 5).

As this was our Savior’s prayer, let it be our prayer and our determination for ourselves and our brethren.

Psalms 40:16 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified."

Psalms 70:4 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified."

AMEN.